Author: katieb

A Message from the Minister’s Messy Desk

Holy Week is a funny time in the church calendar. For most of us the week doesn’t look all that different from any other week, aside from perhaps a couple extra services.   This year, like last year, it is different, and certainly the recent changes to restrictions have made that all the more poignant. We are living our own upheaval while constantly adapting to a “new normal”. In the Gospel according to Matthew after Jesus entered Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna he then spent the next four days within his own upheaval. He cleansed the temple, cursed a fig tree, dealt with the authorities who tried trick him at every turn, and told some of his best parables (like the parable of the wedding banquet or the parable of the talents) all before Thursday night. This wasn’t a normal week for Jesus yet he continued to teach and preach and heal while the chief priests were plotting to kill him. I would encourage you to read Matthew 21-26:16 to find out all that Jesus got up to in those few days! Then I would encourage you to participate in the online shared services provided by some of my colleagues.  May we all find the space to live this holy week anew.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES:

April 1^st: A pre-recorded Maundy Thursday meditation will be provided by St. John the Divine, Anglican Church and will be available on Thursday at: www.sjtdcourtenay.ca/live

April 2^nd: A LIVE Good Friday service will be provided by St. George’s United Church at 10:30am. Information on the service can be found here stgeorgesunited.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/797054

April 4^th: A LIVE Sunrise service will be provided by Cumberland Weird Church at 6:45am it can be found here:  www.weirdchurchcumberland.com

Our regular Easter service will be live streamed at 10:30am on our YouTube channel.

Rev. Jenn will be on study leave April 5-12^th. A pre-recorded service provided by Presbyterian World Service and Development will be available on April 11^th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

On Thursday at 10:30am anyone interested is invited to a time of “Virtual Coffee Hour” over Zoom. There is no agenda, simply a chance to catch up and chat! This event is hosted by Marion Lade and Erica Farrell and you can connect:

Comox Valley Presbyterian Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Coffee and Chat

Time: Mar 18, 2021 10:30 AM Vancouver

   Zoom COFFEE Meeting

LENTEN PROJECT:

April 4^th is your last Sunday to contribute to our Lenten Project. We are raising funds for the Comox Valley Head Injury Society in honour of Gordon Johnson and the Mt. Washington Ski Patrol in honour of Al Wedel.

A Message from the Minister’s Messy Desk

In my role as Moderator of the Presbytery of Vancouver Island I was asked to attend the UVic Multi-faith Centre’s virtual AGM.  If you thought congregational ministry was challenging, imagine trying to minister to students who aren’t on campus! Yet, like us, they have discovered that one of the perks of going virtual is that they can reach a broader group. There are people from all over the world participating in meditation gatherings and worship services! Now the big shift is preparing to offer in-person classes in September after a year of being completely virtual.

As we transition from Easter to the Ascension to Pentecost  I’m reminded that many transitions can be exciting and terrifying. This will be a common theme in upcoming sermons. Yet, new beginnings can also provide healing. This comes to mind  each time we discuss the affordable housing possibilities on our property. I was so pleased to see so many people attend the meeting and ask their questions! I know that the New Beginnings Building Committee is very excited about really getting going on the project. While we are also nervous, the committee is doing a great job accessing courses and resources, and meeting with people who have done similar projects. If the resurrection story has taught me anything it is that God is all about new beginnings!

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen: it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. – Hebrews 11:1

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Did you know that donkeys have an incredible memory, studies have shown that they can recognize areas and other donkeys they were with up to 25 years a part. Donkeys were, and in some places still are, the preferred mode of transportation across harsh land. It is said that Egypt became the wealthy nation it was because of the precious metals carried from around Africa on the backs of donkeys. But one of the more intriguing facts about donkeys is that they have a reputation of being rather stubborn but it turns out that this is due to their highly developed sense of self preservation. It is difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it sees as contrary to its own best interest or safety. This is perhaps one of the reasons why donkeys can live for over 50 years. This is also why training a donkey relies on building a relationship with them. Truly, trainers must show through words and actions that they will protect the donkey before a donkey will follow instructions.  Training a donkey can take years and takes a great amount of effort with each new owner. It is this fact that connects us to the familiar story of palm Sunday and should cause us to look at this familiar story in a new way.

In Mark’s version of events, as Jesus and his disciples are approaching Jerusalem he sends two of his disciples to get a colt, a young male donkey. The term colt is often used to mean an un-castrated male donkey or horse, which implies it has a bit of a wild side. But did you notice anything about the instructions? Jesus says, “Go into the village ahead of you and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt.” Then if the disciples are questioned they are to say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” Remember, Mark loves that word. There is an immediacy to this story- and this immediacy points to God’s reign breaking in through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Things are about to go down!

But then with all this immediate language why does Jesus spend so much time explaining to the disciples where and how they should get the colt, the foal of a donkey. Why does Mark, who is known for being abrupt in his writing, really getting to the point quickly, spend so much time detailing what happens when the disciples go to pick up the colt. And what is with the little detail that the “colt has never been ridden”? Mark spends more than half of these eleven verses talking about this donkey. Why?

Many commentators have suggested that one of the reasons Mark spends so much time emphasizing the details around procuring the colt is to give his readers time to remember the prophecy found in Zechariah. It is found in chapter 9:9 and says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  This is to signal that Jesus is the one who they have been waiting for. The one who will nonviolently bring peace. Although I would argue that crucifixion is a pretty violent death. If you know other versions of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, you know that Matthew is really clear and states that Jesus riding on the donkey, “took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet.” Ok, so some of this detail is to link Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with a prophecy. But why so much detail and why this mention that the colt has never been ridden before.

Jesus is turning the understanding of power and kingship on its head. You see, regardless of what is written in Zechariah, already, having a king ride on a colt rather than in a chariot with weapons-a-blazing, is flipping the image of kingship on its head. Jesus comes in peaceful and relatively quiet way. Likely Jesus knew about the verse in Zechariah but Jesus also lived under military occupation. In fact, in 332 BCE Alexander the Great, having conquered “Tyre and Gaza after terrible sieges…Jerusalem opened its gates to him without a fight.” And we can imagine how Alexander would have paraded about showing his might and force. Pilate, who is clearly in town for the festival of the passover, would have entered in a similar fashion. May even be entering the city on the same day at the same time as Jesus. Jesus riding a donkey points to the humility of Christ but it also demonstrates that while Jesus’ entry is nonviolent it was still an act that put him in danger. This is a risky act that will indeed push both political and religious leaders to decide that his actions must be stopped. While Jesus riding on a colt is a humble act, it did enough damage to the idea of kingship that the authorities saw it as a threat.

But before we think that Jesus is being demure or subservient by choosing a colt, we come back to this idea that the colt has never been ridden before. This is a significant fact. First, for any animal it would be unusual for it to allow anyone to ride it, if it had never been ridden before, but based on what we know about donkeys this is particularly true. Donkeys require trust, let alone being “broken in.” Jesus, however, has great authority and power so much so that the natural world can come under his influence. Jesus has a kind of power and authority that is not about kingship or political leadership but a power that is even greater than any earthly conception of power. And here Jesus demonstrates that power by riding an unbroken colt. Here Jesus’ reconciling power over all creation is played out.

The people who are witnesses to this event do know that something special is taking place. While they may not know that Jesus subdued a colt they do recognize the symbolism of Jesus riding in on a donkey. Many people turn the dusty land into a red carpet entrance by throwing their own cloaks upon the ground. The fanfare takes shape in earnest as they begin to spread leafy branches on the ground and wave them with shouts of hosanna! There is excitement and exaltation in the air. They have their hands in the air and they are exclaiming, “Hurray! Jesus is number 1!

But it is important for us to remember that this act of peaceful nonviolence, this act of riding in on an unbroken donkey, this triumphal entry into Jerusalem means that the shouts of “Hosanna!” and “Jesus is number 1”! Will be replaced with “Crucify” in less than a week. It’s a tough transition- palms to passion to paschal mystery, but Jesus’ relationship with God is such that Jesus trusts the process, loves the people, wants to show the depths of God’s protection. And he does it all by riding in on a colt, the foal of a donkey, that has never been ridden before. Amen

A Message from the Minister’s Messy Desk

            Today the weather is changing. The wind is rustling and the sky is grey. I heard this morning that there were rain warnings for parts of the island with nearly 100mm of rain! But even on a day like today October is my favourite month. In the iconic book Anne of Green Gables she exclaims, “I am so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers.” I couldn’t agree more. I pray that as the season transitions we are reminded that God is with us throughout the transitions of our lives. Sometimes our days are filled with bright colours, like those on the maple and oak trees in the church parking lot, and sometimes our days are filled with dark clouds and blowing wind, like this morning. Yet, God is in and with it all. At this week’s Bible study we read a portion of the Living Faith (one of the PCC’s statements of faith) where it says, “Jesus understands us. He felt the joy of friendship, the pain of rejection, and died a human death.” This helps me to know that no matter the kind of day I am having that Jesus knows what it’s like. As thanksgiving approaches and we are all aware that it will feel different this year I encourage you to give thanks for all that brings you comfort and joy.

Angela Hope, our Pastoral Care Assistant, sent me this wonderful statement about gratitude. Gratitude is known to reduce pain, improve sleep quality, aid in stress regulation, reduce anxiety and depression, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and strengthens the immune system

May it remind us all to give thanks!
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a
friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today
and creates a vision for tomorrow.

• Melody Beattie

Thank you to Maryka and Corinne for this beautiful thanksgiving display!

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR Oct 11th

A reminder to elders that we have a Session meeting via zoom this tuesday, Oct 13^th at 7pm

The annual Child Haven Dinner will look different this year. Child Haven International is a registered Canadian charity that assists children and women in developing countries who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and other supports.

Instead of the usual sit down meal this year the Datt family are offering take away meals by e-transfer.

Child Haven International 2020 Fundraising Event

Friday, October 16, 5 PM

DUE TO COVID: in lieu of the

17^th ANNUAL CHILD HAVEN DINNER We will be selling a

FULL VEGETARIAN INDIAN DINNER FOR TAKE AWAY

 from the 3rd street side of the 

COURTENAY LEGION 367 CLIFFE AVENUE

Up the covered ramp: physical distancing will be practiced

DINNER FOR 4 $50

PAYMENT BY E-TRANSFER

For more information, contact Heather at

Congregants,

We are taking the advice of health professionals and cancelling church service on Sunday March 15th and Sunday March 22nd. We will review this decision after the next two weeks. Please review the letter from Rev. Jenn about how we can stay connected to each other and call with any questions or if help is needed.

Letter to Congregation

There are approximately 40 hymns or carols in our current Book of Praise in the
section called, “Christmas”, of that 40 about 25 are fairly well known and we sing them nearly
every year. Eighteen of those carols reference Mary, seventeen reference the angels, fifteen
reference the Shepherds, ten reference the animals in the stable, nine reference Bethlehem,
seven reference the manger and five reference the star. Do you know how many of the carols in
our hymn book reference Joseph? Two. One is an obscure hymn that I have never sung called,
“The Snow Lay On the Ground” and the other is “Angels we have heard on high.” Now, I like to
think of myself as a bit of a feminist, and therefore I am aware that most of the other stories in
Scripture are male dominated, so it is time that a woman is the centre of a story. However, I am
also a bit of an equal opportunist and I have started to feel a bit sorry for Joseph, sure Mary
does most of the work and faces incredible challenges head on, sure the Angels are the ones
who announce the birth to the Shepherds, sure the animals and manger are fun to sing about
because it makes it such an extraordinary story but Joseph may just be the most relate-able
character in this story. Matthew is the only Gospel writer who really gives Joseph any depth but
Joseph’s behaviour and example gives us some clarity on how incredible this whole narrative is
and how it relates to our own lives.

First a word about his name, because throughout the stories of the people of God,
names are important. The name Joseph comes from the Hebrew name Yosef which finds its
root from the Hebrew verb “yasaf” which means “to add” or “to increase”. This makes sense as
we think of the other Josephs who find themselves within Scripture. The first time we hear the
name Joseph is within the story of Jacob, Joseph is the 11th

son and but first son with Jacob’s fourth and favourite wife Rachel. This Joseph increased not only the family of Jacob but adds to the story of the Israelites in general as it is through him that they eventually find themselves in Egypt. The Joseph from this morning, Joseph, the husband of Mary also adds to story of God’s people. Matthew’s version of Joseph is unique to not only all the Gospels but unique to the rest of Matthew. Nowhere else are Joseph’s traits described or does he take such an active role in the birth of Jesus. Matthew says that Joseph was a righteous man, the only descriptor in all the gospels about Joseph’s personality and given Joseph’s behaviour it is almost redundant to say he is righteous because we find out how righteous within the same sentence. If an unwed young woman, who was betrothed or promised in marriage, was found pregnant it was not only grounds for a dismissal or divorce but according to Deuteronomy 22, could lead to her being put to death. Joseph plans to dismiss her quietly, saving the family from shame and saving Mary’s and the unborn child’s life. The very fact that he does not want to expose her publicly to save her from disgrace demonstrates his righteousness. Its important that we don’t romanticize this story too much. Joseph wasn’t doing this because he was heartbroken, he decided to dismiss her quietly because it was the right thing to do. However, Joseph’s plans are abruptly changed following a message in a dream. So
often our plans can change in an instant.

The Angel’s first words to Joseph can help us too when change seizes us. This angel of the Lord gives the command, “do not be afraid,” we too should not fear change. The angel continues with some very interesting and counter-cultural instructions. Joseph is not only to take Mary as his wife, something that would have been unheard of at the time, but he is also the one who is to name the child. Culturally the naming was usually a prerogative of the mother. As mentioned in the introduction, this naming is vital to the relationship between Joseph and Jesus. By naming Jesus, Joseph performs the official act of adoption and as a result, due to Joseph’s obedience and naming, Jesus is linked to the historic royal genealogy of Israel. Think about this for a moment, according to Matthew, because of Joseph’s obedience, Jesus becomes the Son of David- and therefore the Messiah. Without Joseph’s role Jesus would not have been able to claim his royal lineage. And the symbolism of Joseph’s adoption of Jesus should not be lost on us. Just as Joseph names and therefore claims Jesus as his own, Jesus adopts and claims us as his own.

It is Joseph’s obedience that can make him relate-able. Joseph was going to quietly
dismiss Mary- one could say he had given up on her as his wife. But God tells Joseph not only
to not give up but to demonstrate love by faithfully supporting her. Both Mary and Joseph take
all of this in stride but Joseph’s role in this nativity narrative opens up the possibilities for us to
explore the faith filled contributions we make when we do not give up on others but rather
demonstrate love, particularly within those situations that are not necessarily of our making or
even those in which we do not play a central role. The Rev. Dr. Grant Barclay frames it this way,
“If faith is understood as the choices we make and things we are determine to do, this passage
suggests faith may also be about the responses we make to the situations in which we find
ourselves. We are faithful not only in those ways we take the initiative, but also in how we
respond.” Joseph responds with faith and love to a very challenging situation.
In fairness, I think most of us would find it easier to respond to unpredictable situations
if we too had dreams in which angels gave us instruction and made the outcomes very clear.
However, at this time of year I also think about how our best laid plans can be derailed. Instead
of responding with anger or even dismissal perhaps we need to respond in faith and love.
Joseph has doubts and concerns but they are answered by divine confirmation. We don’t
always have that luxury however, this story declares that God reaches into the context of human existence in an unprecedented way- Jesus does what we cannot do for ourselves. Through this extraordinary story we discover that we do have the ability to respond to extraordinary situations as Joseph does- with faith and love, and we can always turn to Scripture for reassurance. The angel in Joseph’s dream not only tells Joseph to name the child Jesus but then quotes directly from the passage we heard in Isaiah. This might seem a bit confusing because the angel also tells Joseph that the child’s name will be Emmanuel. So, what happened to the name Jesus? Well, in short, Matthew is saying that Jesus saves his people by being God with us- something that will become vital in understanding the person and work of Jesus. When Isaiah wrote his prophecy the Southern Kingdom had just been attacked and therefore his words are about divine signs of salvation during a siege. The countdown to Christmas can sometimes feel like a siege- but the power of the name Emmanuel for us at Advent is that it calls us to live faithfully in God’s promise to be with us and indeed even to have the courage of faith to test that promise when we feel under siege. And I’m not talking about some false war on Christmas- I’m talking about all of those situations in which we, loose faith, in which we no longer believe that God is able to reverse threatening situations that confront us or the world.

We don’t know how Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant but it certainly was a
threatening situation for her and for their betrothal but God intervened and reversed the
situation, transformed it in such a way that this child became the Messiah. It may appear that
Joseph just went along for the ride but in truth his willingness to follow in faith, and not give up
on Mary or the relationship, is what changes the situation. Think of all the opportunities you
have in the coming week to be like Joseph. Do not give up, respond in faith, act in love. Amen

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